Background: Higher education institutions (HEIs) are seeking effective ways to address the rising demand for student mental health services. Peer support is widely considered a viable option to increase service capacity; however, there are no agreed definitions of peer support, making it difficult to establish its impact on student mental health and well-being.
Aims: This systematic review aims to better understand and evaluate peer support in HEIs.
Method: Five databases, OpenGrey and Grey Matters were searched in May 2021. Included studies were quantitative, longitudinal (with and without a control) or cross-sectional with a control. The vote-counting method was used for synthesis. The risk of bias was assessed with the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool.
Results: Three types of peer support were represented in 28 papers: peer-led support groups, peer mentoring and peer learning. Peer learning and peer mentoring had more positive, significant results reported for the outcomes of anxiety and stress. Peer-led support groups were the only type targeting students with mental health difficulties.
Conclusions: The heterogeneity of measures and outcomes prevents firm conclusions on the effectiveness of peer support for mental health and well-being. Most studies were rated 'poor' or 'fair' in their risk of bias. There is not a solid evidence base for the effectiveness of peer support. Nonetheless, HEIs can use the terminology developed in this review for shared discussions that guide more robust research and evaluation of peer support as an intervention.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10755562 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.603 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Organizational Initiatives for the Recruitment, Retention and Advancement of Black Nurses: A Rapid Review.
Nurs Leadersh (Tor Ont)
June 2025
Adjunct Professor School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Graduate Studies Dalhousie University Halifax, NS.
Introduction: Black nurses are under-represented in the Canadian nursing workforce. A legacy of discrimination and systemic barriers reinforce the under-representation of Black nurses in the nursing workforce throughout the health system.
Objective: The objective of this study was to identify and describe organizational initiatives for the recruitment, retention and advancement of Black nurses in the healthcare system.
A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring the Role of Social Isolation in the Relationship Between Food Insecurity, Depressive Symptoms, and Resource Use Among Midwestern Rural Veterans in the U.S.
Nutrients
January 2025
Department of Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Background/objectives: The study's objective was to determine whether social isolation serves as a mediator in the cross-sectional relationship between food insecurity, both as a short-term and longer-term situation, with resource use and depressive symptoms as outcomes.
Methods: This cross-sectional design study utilized secondary survey data, including 30-day and 12-month food security measured by the U.S.
Classroom Behavior Recognition Using Computer Vision: A Systematic Review.
Sensors (Basel)
January 2025
Faculty of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China.
Behavioral computing based on visual cues has become increasingly important, as it can capture and annotate teachers' and students' classroom states on a large scale and in real time. However, there is a lack of consensus on the research status and future trends of computer vision-based classroom behavior recognition. The present study conducted a systematic literature review of 80 peer-reviewed journal articles following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Assessment and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBeyond the Physical: Weight Stigma and the Bariatric Patient Journey.
J Clin Med
January 2025
Department of Surgery, County Hospital, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400139 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Obesity represents a global epidemic associated with significant health risks, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. Management strategies have evolved from focusing solely on weight reduction to emphasizing overall health improvements and mitigating associated risks. This narrative review analyzed the existing peer-reviewed literature across databases such as PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to examine the outcomes of bariatric surgery and its interplay with weight stigma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntimate Partner Violence: The Relationship Between the Stages of Change, Maintenance Factors, and the Decision to Keep or Leave the Violent Partner.
J Clin Med
January 2025
Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, University of Maia, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal.
Violence in intimate relationships (IPV) is understood as one of the most common forms of violence, being maintained by cultural habits and customs, and legitimized from generation to generation. This study aims at a comprehensive review of the literature on IPV, the relationship between the stages of change, maintenance factors, and the decision to keep or leave the violent partner. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify journal articles focused on IPV, following online databases as well as a manual review from relevant peer-reviewed journals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!